Machine for forming seamed tubes.



o. 1. GROEHN. MACHINE FOR FORMING SEAMED TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

HEETS-SHEET l.

CO Q91 i @A/ZM o. 1. GoEHN. MACHINE FOR FORMING SEAMED TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6 1914.

1,137,966. f Patented May 4,1915.

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0. l. GROEHN. MACHINE FOR FORMING SEAMED TUBES.

,APPLICATIUN FILED APR. G. 1914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

W .S m m J *1w la w 6. 6 -l 1% l., .,m/x. l wlw 0. I. GROEHN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING SEAMED TUBES.

`MPLIATIOII FILED APR. E, 19I4.

B SHEETS-'SHEET 5.

Patented May 4, 1915.

i @www '0.1. GROEHN.V MACHINE FOR FORMING SEAMED UBES. APPLICATION HLED APR. '6, 1914.

Paten-tea May 4, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

lslpgo f0.4. GROEHN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING SEANIED TUBES.

, APPLICATION FILED APR.'6, 1914. l ,1.379966 Patented. May 4, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7 Ima/'Moz 0. J. GROEIIN. MACHINE ron FoRMING'sEAMED TUBES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1914.

Patented. Mayfl, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

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lIII '65 section therethrough OTTO J'. GBOEHN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

ASSIGNOR TO BBISCOE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OIE' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

- MACHINE FOR FOBMING SEAMED TUBES.

Application led April 6, 1914. Serial No. 830,047.

To all whom 'it may cof/wem:

Be it known that I, O'r'ro J. GROEHN, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Detroit, in the county of Wayne State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Seamed Tubes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawin s.

gThe invention relates to machines for forming tubes such as are used in the formation of radiators, and it is the particular objectvof the invention to obtain a construction which is adapted to form tubes of various sizes and which may be easily adjusted where change is made from one size to an other.

It is a further object to obtain a machine in which the operation is automatic from the feeding of the sheet metal strip into the machine to the delivery of the finished tube.

ln the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig.

F ig. 3 is a cross section partly in elevation; Fig. 4 is a plan view; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the feed mechanism shown in Fig. el; Fig. 6 is a cross section thereof on line .fc- Fig. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 3 Fig. S is a fragmentary transverse sectional view; Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of a portion of the machine Fig. 10 is a plan view of the folding mechanism; Fig. 11 is a cross section through the blank-supporting bed; Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view showing the upper plunger head; Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the lower plunger head; Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are elevations showing the mechanism for performing the successive steps in the seaming Fig. 2O is an elevation of the mandrel and tripper for disengaging the work thererom.

ln general organization my improved machine comprises, first, means for advancing a sheet metal strip and cutting off the same into suitable lengths for forming the tubes;

Specification of Letters atent.

2 is a longitudinal operation; andl l in a bearing 20 upon Patented May 4, 1915.

second, means for folding the severed blanks around a suitable mandrel; third, means for seaming the opposite edges of the blank to form the tube; and fourth, means for dis, engaging the formed tube from the mandrel. I nasmuch as the tubes are made of various sizes, it is necessary to provide adjustments by which the length of the severed blank is altered. This also necessitates exchangeable mandrels and provision for adjusting the mechanism which performs the folding and seaming so that it will coperate with the various mandrels, and these various adjustments are provided for by the following construction: 1 is a suitable frame provided with a bed plate 2 along which a sheet metal strip 3 is fed from a reel i, by a reciprocatory feeder 5 carrying ogs 6. The feeder is operated by a lever 7 actuated in its forward direction by a cam iupon a shaft 9 and returned by a spring 19. The length of feed is determined by an adjustable stop 11 which limits the return movement of the feeder and consequently the distance it would be advanced by the operation of the cam.

Beyond the feeder the strip 3 is advanced along guides 12 to the severing and folding mechanism. y This comprises cooperating shearing dies 13 and 14, which are adapted to simultaneously form reverse-bent hooks upon the ends of the strip on opposite sides of the cut; also folding mechanism including hinged wings 15 and 16 and a mandrel 17 upon opposite sides of which the wings fold. Adjustment for different sized blanks is provided for by mounting the cooperating dies 13 and 14 so that they may be moved longitudinally of the bed to vary the distance between the same and the mandrel, which latter remains in a fixed vertical plane. There is also a stop 18 against which the end of the blank is fed, which is adjustable to correspond to the adjustment of the severing dies.

The die 13 is secured to a vertically-reciprocatory plunger 19 which is mounted a cross bar 21 extending between front and rear Vertical frames 22 and 23. Th right cross fr cured to and and the bar 2 5 secured on t clamping bol gage T-shape 23. bar 23, the shifted in p 1 the ma able fill ese frames are secu ames 24 and 25, w extend upwar 3 is longitudi he front and ts 26, the heads of w d slots 27 in said fra by adjusting the posi plunger 19 and osition to alter its ndrel 17. The die 14 larly adjusted, being secured t aclamp 28 capable of longit ment.

The reverse-bent ho the severed section ing rabbeted shea er-blocks 30 such that the ed first shear th portion oppo The hook or b will thus be t e unsevered strip will that in the subsequent f this upturned flange will it strikes against the sto completely -severed "blank an upturned flange at its a downturned shown 1n Fig. 1

Folding mechanism. adjustably and eXchan a vertically-slidable h guideways 33 on the slide is actuated by its upper end a roll on a shaft 37 parallel t driven therefrom throu 40 gears 38 and 39. The cam f and timed that after the bl the stop s of the stri urnedk down,

flange at its 18 and is sever the slide 32 will be lowe ward the mandrel 17 an edge thereof against th Beneath the mandrel i which is secured to ver 41 and is pressed upw of springs 42, so as pressure upon the blan from displacement du eration. continued downward drel 17 and the simult 55. ment of the wings 1 are actuated by justably secured to the slid ing bolt 44. roller rockers 45 and 46 and 48 carrying roller bear against the sides of th g the same up The arrangement ank will be folded upon a downwar This exten f pivots.

red to upthe mandrel, with the hooked or `Banged hich are seends projecting slightly above the upper end d from the bed, of the mandrel, as shown in Fig. 15.

nally, adjustably -Seamz'ng mcham'sm. The seaming of the frames by blank is effected by mechanism carried by a hlch envertically-reciprocatory `member and actumes 22 and ated during the movement thereof. This tion. of the comprises amainreciprocatory head 50 prodie 13 may be vided with downwardly-extending guides 51 distance from slidably ,secured in ways 52 upon the front may be simiand rear frame plates 22 and 23. This head o the bed 2 by carries a sub-head 53 which is slidably supudinal adjustported thereon by straps 54 having hooks 55,

while .spring 56l between the heads holds the oks are formed upon same 1n normal spaced relation. The "subp by coperathead 53 is adapted to be limited in itsl downring blades 29 and yieldward movement by stops 57, adjustably the arrangement being secured to the stationary frame by clampges of the blades 29 will ing bolts 58 engaging slotted bearings 59, e strip and will then fold the as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. These stops do 'te the rabbets or recesses 31. not, however, limit the downward moveent flange on the severed blank ment of the main head, as the spr` gs 56 will while the end of yield. The main head is actuated by cams be turned up, so 60 upon the shaft 9, which engage rollers 61 ceding operation, upon a block 62 adjustably secured by screws be advanced until 63 and 64 to a bracket-arm 65 on the-main Thuseach head. The cam 60 positively actuates the is provided with head 50 in a downward direction, while a forward end and spring 66 returns the head as released by rear end, as t e cam.

The sub-head 53 carries laterally-movable -The mandrel 17 is folding or tucking blades 67 and 68, which geably-mounted upon are employed for' successively folding the ead 32, which engages edge portions of the blank in the formation rear frame 23. lThis of the seam. These tucking or folding ger 34 having at blades are positioned in the proper relation gagedby a cam 36 tothe mandrel 17 by the setting of the adthe shaft 9 and justable stops 57, and are subsequently acgh intermeshing tuated by the relative movement of the main 36 is so fashioned head which carries 'suitable actuating cams. ank is fed against To secure the proper timing and sequential ed from the strip, movement of the tucking blades 67 and 68, red carrying downthe former is actuated by the downward d pressing the lower movement of the main head 50 and the latter e center of the blank. by the upward movement of said head, and s -a yieldable block 40 to this end latch-cams 69 and 70 are mounted tically-slidable Shanks upon depending arms 71 secured to the main ard under the tension head 50. These latch-cams are pivotally to place a clamp 1n secured in such a manner that the cam 69 k which will holdit will operate in its downward movement,' ring the folding opand will trip so as to prevent actuation in g is effected by the its upward movement, while the cam 70 will movement of the manbe tripped in its downward movement and aneous swinging movewill actuate the\coperating folder in its 5 and 16, which latter upward movement. The folders 67 and 68 dextension 43 adare slidably supported in depending arms e 32 by the clamp- 72 upon the sub-head and are pressed against sion bears against the cams by springs 73.

upon rock-shafts 47 The construction of mechanism just dearms 49, which Y scribed is such that in the operation of the e wings 15 and machine sequential operations are performed ward upon their as follows: After the blank has been folded is such that the .by the wings 15 and 16 into the position opposite sides of shown in Fig. 15, the two hooked flanges which are to form the seam are arranged in parallel relation. The cams 60 then operate to depress the head 50, which carries downward with it the subhead 53 until the latter is arrested bythe stops 57. When this occurs the folder or tucking blade 67 will be in a plane just above the upper end of the mandrel, and in the further downward movement of the head 50 the latch cam 69 will operate against a roller bearing 74 on said blade and will press the same inward against the tension of the spring 73. This will bend the hook A of the blank over the top of the mandrel and into engagement with the hook B, as shown in Fig. 16. Simultaneous with this operation, the downward movement of the head 50 will cause a cam 75 to engage a roller 76 on the tucking blade 68, moving the latter inward into the position shown 1n Fig. 16, where it abuts against the side of the engaged portion of the blank. A further downward movement of the head 50 will cause a blade 77 depending from said head to fold the hook B over the hook A, as shown in Fig. 17, the blade 67 having been withdrawn. To complete the formation of the seam the blade 77 is lifted sufficiently to clear the engaged hooks A and B, which is accomplished by a depression 60a in the cam 60, permitting an upward movement of the head 50. AThis upward movement also causes the latch-cam 70 to engage with the roll7 6, vwhich actuates the folder blade 68, projecting it into the position shown in Fig. 18 and turning over the hooks to form the double seam. As soon as the cam 70 has passed the roll 76 the blade 68 is withdrawn by the tension of the spring 73, following which the cam 60 again forces the head 50 downward, causing the blade 77 to flatten the seam, as shown in Fig. 19.

It will be understood that in the movements just described, the latch-cam 70 trips in the downward movement of the head 50, so as to pass the roll 76 without actuating the same, and in the same manner in the upward movement of the head 50, the latchcam 69 will trip to pass the roll 74. It will also be observed that two distinct functions are performed by the blade 77 during the successive depression of the head 50, the first function being the turning down of the hook B, and the second function the flattening or compressionof the finishedseam.

During the final upward movement of the head 50, which completes the cycle, the iinished tube is disengaged from the mandrel by the operation of a stripper. This comprises a head 78 slidably engaging transversely-extending guides 79 on the bed of the machine and actuated by a lever 80, which in turn is operated by a cam 81 on the shaft 37. To the slide 78 is secured a rod 82 slidably engaging a central slot in the mandrel 17 and carrying stripper heads 85 engaging recesses 84 on opposite sides of said mandrel. The heads 85 are normally in position in rear of the folded blank, but during the upward movement of the head 56 the cam 81, operating the lever 80, will force the head 78 forward, causing the strippers to gradually force the completed tube off the end of the mandrel. Thestripping motion is one which is gradually accelerated, due to the shape of the cam 81, and just before the completion of the movement a sudden rise 81". at the end of the cam will produce a kick which propels the tube with sufficient force to clear the machine.

To adjust the machine for different sizes of work, the mandrel 17. is exchangeable, being secured to the head 32 by clamping bolts 17?. When a larger or smaller mandrel is used in the machine, it is so positioned that its lower edge is in the same relation to the bedof the machine as all other sizes of mandrel. This will change the elevation of the upper edge, which necessitates an adjustment of the head'50 and of the stops 57 which position the lower head 53. The latter are adjusted by shifting the clampingl bolt 58 in the slotted bearing 59, and, as before stated, this stop is so positioned that the folders 67 and 68 will be in proper relation to the upper edge of the mandrel when performing their work. The head 50 is also adjusted by the screws 63 and 61, so that the blade 77 will be in proper relation to the mandrel at the completion of the downward movement of the head. The stripper-rod 82 is free to adjust itself in relation to the mandrel by being provided with a head 82a, which engages a vertical slot in the head 7 8. Thus the machine may be quickly adjusted to accommodate any size of mandrel and to coperate therewith, while, as previously stated, the size of the blank may be altered by adjusting the stop 18 and severing dies 13 and 14. This latter adjustment is effected by shifting the clamping bolts 26 in the T-shaped slots 27, which adjusts the crossbar 91, carrying with it the plunger 19 and die 13. The plunger 19 is actuated by a cam 85 which is feathered upon the shaft' 9, and may be adjusted to correspond to the position or adjustment of the bar 21. y

In the complete operation of the machine, the sheet metal strip is intermittently advanced by the operation of the cam 8, which actuates the bell-crank lever 7 and reciprocates the feeder 5. properly set the strip'will be advanced upon each reciprocation an amount correspondingto the length of the severed blank, and the end of the strip which has the upturned hook thereon will bear against the stop 18. The mandrel l17 will then be loweredto clamp the blank against the yieldable block 40, and

When the stop 11 is' ends thereof, said means being adjustably positioned upon one side of said at the same time the die 13 will be depressed to sever the blank and form the downturned hook thereon. The die 13 is then immedlately retracted to provide clearance for the folding of the blank, while the continued ,depression of the mandrel 17 and the upward swinging movement of the wings .15 and 16 will fold the blank, as shown in Fig. 15. This occurs before the head 50 is depressed, and consequently the folding blades 67 and 68 are not in position to interfere. The seam is then formed by the successive Operations as previously described and as shown in Figs. 16 and 19, after which the completed tube is ejected from the mandrel, and the cycle isrepeated.

lVhat I claim as my invention is l. The combination with means for intermittently advancing a sheet metal strip, of severing means for said strip adapted to form reverse bent hooks on the adjacent ends thereof, a mandrel around which the severed blank is folded, a clamping member coacting with said mandrel, means for` depressing the mandrel to clamp the central portion of the strip in advance of the folding of the same, and coperating means for foldingthe blank about the mandrel while thus clamped.

2. The combination with a mandrel, of means for intermittently advancing asheet metal strip, adjustable to vary the lengths thus advanced, means for severing and forming reverse-bent'hooks upon the severed ends of said strip, adjustable in relation to said mandrel to position the severed blank in symmetrical relation thereto, and means for folding the severed blank about said mandrel. i"

3. The combination with a mandrel, of meansfor intermittently advancing a sheet metal strip beneath said mandrel, adjustable to vary the length fed, a stop on one side of said mandrel, and severing means upon the opposite side thereof, both being relatively adjustable to the mandrel to arrange the severed blank symmetrically in relation thereto, and means for folding the severed blank about the mandrel.

4, The combination with a mandrel, of means for intermittently advancing a sheet metal strip beneath said mandrel. means for adjusting the feed to vary the lengths advanced,`means for severing the strip and orming reverse-bent hooks upon the severed mandrel, a stop adjustably positioned upon the opposite side of said mandrel to symmetrically arrange i the severed blank therebeneath, means for clamping the blank against the bottom of said mandrel, and means for foldinglthe opposite sides ofthe blank against the mandrel while thus clamped.

5. The combination with means for interward as the said mandrel,

yfolding mechanism,

' the upper edge of main head, seaming mechanism mittently advancing a sheet metal strip, of means for severing said strip and form' reverse-bent hooks on the severed ends thereof, a mandrel arranged to extend transversely of said blank, means for lowering said mandrel, a yieldable block beneath said mandrel for clamping the blank thereagainst, and hinged wings upon opposite sides of said mandreladapted to swing upmandrel is depressed, .to fold the blank.

`6. The combination with albed, of means for intermittently advancing a sheet metal strip along said bed, folding wings normally lying in the plane of said bed, a mandrel extending across said bed between said folding wings, a resiliently-yieldable block beneath said mandrel also in the plane of said bed, means for depressing said mandrel to clam said strip against said yieldable block, means for severing the strip positioned to arrange the severed blank symmetrically in relation to said mandrel, and 4means operating during the continued depression of said mandrel for folding said wings upward against the opposite sides thereof.

he combination with a mandrel, of means for folding a sheet metal blank about said mandrel with. its ends projecting above the upper edge thereof, a reciprocatory head, and mechanlsm carried 'by said head and operated during the reciprocation thereof for seaming the ends of said blank upon said mandrel.

8. The combination with a mandrel, of means for folding a sheet metal blank about a vertically-reciprocating head, a sub-head carried thereby, blankseaming mechanism mounted on said subhead, means for arresting movement of said sub-head when said seaming devices are in coperative relation with said mandrel, and means operating upon the continued movement of the main head to actuate said seaming devices.

9. The combination with a. blank-folding mechanism, of a depressible and exchangeable mandrel coperating with said blankthe lower edges of various sizes of mandrels being in the same relation to said folding mechanism, a verticallyreciprocating head, seaming mechanism carried by said head into operative relation to said mandrel, an adjustable stop for arresting movement of said head when said mechanism is in` operative relation to the mandrel, and means for operating said seaming mechanism while in this relation.

10. The combination with blank-folding means, of a depressible and exchangeable mandrel coperating with said blank-fold-` ing mechanism, a vertically-reciprocating.

head, a sub-head yieldably connected to the mounted on i justable in relation to said sub-head and carried thereby into operative relation to said mandrel, an adjustable stop for variably arresting said sub-head in relation to different sizes of mandrels, and means operating by the movement of the main head subsequent to the arresting of the sub-head for actuating said seaming mechanism.

11. The combination with blank-folding mechanism, of a depressible mandrel f or cooperating with said folding mechanism, a vertically-reciprocating head, a sub-head yieldably connected to the main head, laterally-movable seaming folders mounted on said sub-head, a stop for arresting downward movement of said sub-head in advance of the completion of the movement of the main head, and cams carried by said main head for operating said folders upon the sub-head.

12. The combination with blank-folding mechanism, of a depressible mandrel for cooperating with said folding mechanism, a reciprocatory head, a sub-head yieldably connected to said reciprocatory head, laterally-movable seaming folders mounted on said sub-head, a coperating folder mounted on the main head, a stop for arresting downward movement of the sub-head, and cams carried by the main head for operating the folders on said sub-h 13. The combination with blank-folding mechanism, of a depressible mandrel for cooperating with said folding mechanism, a vertically-slidable main head, mechanism for reciprocating said head, blank-seaming mechanism carried by said head and operated during the reciprocation thereof, "and means for adjusting the movement of sai head to cooperate with different sizes of mandrel. l

14. The co bination with blank-folding mechanism, of a depressible mandrel for,` cooperating with said folding mechanism, a vertically-slidable head, mechanism for reciprocating said head, a sub-head yieldably connected to the main head, ooperating blank-seaming devices carried by the main and sub-head, an adjustable stop for arresting the sub-head, and cams carried by said main head for operating the seaming devices on said sub-head.

15. The combination with a blank-folder, of means for advancing a sheet metal strip thereover, means for severing said strip adsaid folder to form blanks of varying sizes, a mandrel arranged above said folder and coperat g therewith, a vertically-slidable head, a sub-head yieldably carried thereby, coperating seaming devices upon said main an sub-head, a stop forV arresting movement of said sub-llllead,

16. The combination with blank-folding means, of a ldepressible mandrel for coperating therewith, a vertically-reciprocating main head, a sub-head yieldably connected with said main head, seamng folders mounted on said sub-head', a stop .for arresting movement of said sub-head, and latch-cams on said main head for respectively operating on the downward and upward movements thereof for operating the seeming folders lon said sub-head sequentially.

17. The combination with blank-folding mechanism, of a depressble mandrel for cooperating therewith, a vertically-slidable main head, a sub-head yieldably carried by said main head, laterally-movable seaming folders mounted on said sub-head, a stop for arresting movement of said sub-head, latchcams on said main head for actuating said seeming folders sequentially and respectively upon the downward and` upward movement of said main head, a seaming folder carried by said main head, and means for depressing said main head subsequent to the operation of said seaming folders to a'tten the seam against said mandrel.

18. rlhe combination with blank-folding means, of a depressible mandrel coperating with said folding means, a vertically-reciprocating head, seaming mechanism carri by said head and operating during the reciprocation thereof, and means for adjusting the movement of said head to cause said seaming mechanism to operate with mandrels of various sizes.

19. The combination with means for intermittently advancing a sheet metal strip, of severing means for said strip adapted to form revers -bent hooks on the adjacent ends thereof, coacting members, between which the strip is advanced prior to severing, one of said members forming a mandrel, means for displacing one of said members toward the other to clamp the central portion of the blank, and coperating means for folding the blank about said mandrel while thus clamped. a

20. The combination with means for intermittently advancing a sheet metal strip, of severing means for sa'd strip adapted to f orm reverse-bent hooks on the adjacent ends thereof, a mandrel around which the severed blank is folded, .a clamping member beneath said mandrel, a pair of wings hinged one at each side of said clamping member, over which the strip is advanced prior to severing, means for depressing the mandrel to clamp the central portion ofthe strip in advance of the folding of the same, and means for simultaneously swinging said wings toward opposite sides of the mandrel to fold the blank.

21. The combination with a reciprocatory head, of a mandrel carried thereby, a yieldable clamping member t'o-ward which the mandrel is displaced by the motion of said head to clamp the central portion of a sheet mm1 blank,l and mean@ for folding.y uw mm fon fol-dingue Severed about 1a blank about themandrel actuated by-oom the 1 tinued movement of said head, subsequent Intestmonywhereof Iax my to the clamp' ofthe blank. in presenne'of two witn.

22. The com mation with a'. mandrel, of means for intermittently advancing a, slheei'..v metal strip beneath said mandrel, means for. Wim: severing and fo reverse-bent hooks- WM. J. BELKNAP, upon the severed. emi of said strip,- and JAMES P. BARRY.

OTTO J. GROEHN.. 

